Dracorhodin perchlorate alleviates sciatic nerve pain in CCI rats by modulating inflammation and promoting nerve repair

This study analyzed protein sequencing from rat samples, categorized into a control group (Chronic Constriction Injury, CCI) and test (treated with dracorhodin perchlorate, DP), The purpose of this study was to identify key target proteins of DP in the treatment of sciatica and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. By comparing the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of the two groups at 1, 3, and 7 days post - treatment, it was revealed that DP consistently and significantly downregulated the expression of the Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the cytokine-Induced neutrophil chemoattractant-3 (CINC-3), while significantly upregulating the expression of the neurotrophic factor ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). Functional enrichment analysis indicated that these DEPs are primarily involved in inflammatory signaling pathways, nerve repair, and the chemotaxis of neutrophils. Validation via Western blot and ELISA demonstrated that the expression levels of IL-6 and CINC-3 were significantly reduced in the DP group, whereas the expression level of CNTF was significantly elevated, thereby confirming the significant therapeutic effect of DP on sciatica. Furthermore, experiments using a zebrafish inflammation model further confirmed that DP could significantly inhibit the recruitment and migration of neutrophils. In summary, this study not only uncovered potential target proteins for DP in the treatment of sciatica but also provided crucial evidence for its mechanism of action, suggesting that DP may effectively alleviate sciatica by downregulating IL-6 and CINC-3, inhibiting neutrophil migration, and upregulating CNTF to promote neurotrophic effects.